~Three~
Gibbs followed Mrs. Taylor's directions and found himself in front of a door with a sign: 'Brent's Room', hanging crookedly from a nail. Smiling, he knocked gently and waited for permission before entering.
A young boy sat at a desk, drawing. Posters adorned the walls and model airplanes strung with fishing line hung from the ceiling. An unmade bed filled one corner of the room. The rest of the wall space on one side was taken up with chest of drawers and a bureau. Gibbs touched one of the model airplanes, sending it swinging gently. "P-38."
Brent looked up. "That's my favorite."
"From World War II."
"Yeah. Those are the best."
Gibbs pointed at another one. "That's my favorite."
"The Warhawk."
"Used by the Flying Tigers."
"Yeah." Brent grinned and sat back down, this time facing Gibbs. His smile disappeared and he grew serious. "You're here to ask me about Rodney, aren't you?"
"My name is Gibbs, Brent. I'm here to help Jason. Rodney and Jason were buddies, huh?"
Brent nodded. He picked up a pencil from his desk and studied the eraser.
"Did Jason know Rodney had a gun, Brent?"
"He - he knew." He twisted in his chair and went back to his drawing.
Gibbs moved to the wall. He glanced out the window, then went down on one knee beside the desk. Brent wouldn't look at him. "What were they doing with the gun?"
Brent shrugged. "Just - stuff."
Gibbs waited a beat, then continued. "It was an accident." Brent's breathing hitched. Gibbs realized his hunch was right. "The gun went off when they were playing, didn't it?"
"Jason didn't mean to!" Panic squeezed Brent's voice tight and he stood up.
"I know he didn't."
"They were just playing, and it happened. Jason didn't know what to do! He ran out and came and told me. The police came, and we waited for them to come and take Jason to jail, but they didn't come."
"No one knew."
"Are you going to take Jason to jail?"
Gibbs shook his head. "No," he answered softly. "I just want to find him and help him. Did you hear what he and Lance Corporal - what they were arguing about?"
Brent sat back down. He seemed wrung out after his confession. "I heard Jason tell him. I heard Jason say it was his fault; that he killed Rodney." His lip quivered and he turned to Gibbs. "He didn't kill Rodney, did he?"
Gibbs reached for his shoulder. "No, he didn't kill anybody." He pushed against the desk and stood. "Can you finish your drawing? I need to go talk to your mom for a minute."
Brent nodded and picked up his pencil. "Is Eddie in trouble? He was pretty mad at Jason."
A chill settled over Gibbs' heart. "I hope he's not, Brent. I'll let you know when I find him." Leaving the door open, Gibbs went back downstairs. He took a deep breath, knowing he was about to add to the already heavy burden weighing on both mothers' shoulders.
When he entered the living room he found Tony and Ziva had arrived. Ziva stood near Diane, talking softly, looking down occasionally to write in her notebook. Tony and McGee sat with Brenda in the adjoining dining room, listening as she spoke quietly to them. Both women looked up when Gibbs joined them. Diane stood and moved toward him, perhaps her mother's instinct letting her know that something was wrong.
"What did Brent say?"
Gibbs hooked her elbow and gently but firmly led her back to her chair. When she sat, he pulled another chair near and joined her. "I don't think Rodney committed suicide."
Diane lifted both hands to cover her mouth. Brenda walked up behind her and touched her on the shoulder. "How do you know?"
Gibbs kept his eyes trained on Diane. He focused on her, made sure she was listening to him. "Brent admitted that Jason and Rodney were handling the gun when it went off, and that it was an accident."
"Oh my god."
Gibbs' stare flicked up to Brenda before focusing back on Diane. "Jason blames himself; he believes Rodney's death is his fault. That's what he told Lance Corporal Morrison when he came to talk to him."
"But if Eddie think it's Jason's fault -"
"No." Brenda shook her head and repeated, vehemently: "No! Eddie wouldn't hurt Jason. He loves Jason like a son. He wouldn't -"
"Mrs. Morrison, we need to find them. Is there any place where Edward takes the boys to hunt or fish, or camping?"
Diane turned to look at Brenda. "Our cabin at Cunningham Falls.
"I need an address. There's a good chance that's where Lance Corporal Morrison took Jason."
Brenda nodded. "I can get that for you." She turned and walked away. McGee followed her.
"Agent Gibbs. Eddie is heartbroken over Rodney's death, but no matter how much Jason believes he's responsible, Eddie would not hurt him." Diane stood and reached for Gibbs' arm. "I know this, believe me. Please, don't hurt Eddie. Brenda's lost one son. If she were to lose both of them it would - she would -"
Gibbs touched her hand. "We'll find Jason, Mrs. Taylor."
The assurance in his voice seemed to calm her. She nodded, then stepped back and pressed one hand against her lips.
"I've got the address, Boss." McGee came back into the room, Mrs. Morrison close behind.
Gibbs nodded. "Let's go."
